Officials in Georgia, have released dash cam video footage capturing the encounter between Leonard Cure and a sheriff’s deputy in the moments leading up to his fatal shooting during a traffic stop.
Leonard Cure, aged 53, was pulled over on Monday on Interstate 95, just north of the Florida border, after his pickup truck was observed speeding at over 90 miles per hour. Cure had recently been released from a Florida prison after being wrongly convicted in a drug store arrest case in Broward County in 2003.
Law enforcement authorities stated that Cure was stopped for speeding and was facing potential arrest for reckless driving. Tragically, the traffic stop ended in his untimely death.
As Leonard Cure, wearing a tank top, got out of his pickup, he engaged in a verbal exchange with the deputy, stating, “I ain’t doing (expletive).” The two had words before Cure moved to the back of his truck and placed his hands on the rear of the pickup.
The deputy warned Cure that he would use a Taser due to the speeding and reckless driving. A struggle ensued between the two, resulting in Cure ending up on the ground and ultimately being shot by the deputy.
The African American man remained compliant until he was informed that he was being placed under arrest, as outlined in a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
According to preliminary information cited by the GBI, the deputy deployed a Taser against Cure when he failed to obey the officer’s commands. Cure subsequently assaulted the deputy, prompting the deputy to employ the Taser a second time, alongside a baton, before resorting to using his firearm to shoot him.
The GBI agent leading the investigation, Stacy Carson, stated that video footage from the deputy’s body camera and patrol car dash camera will be reviewed, along with the officer’s statement and other evidence, prior to the agency forwarding its findings to prosecutors. Officials in Camden County
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump emphasized that the family is eager to see additional video footage, particularly a live stream they claim Cure initiated when he was pulled over. Crump expressed doubts about whether the circumstances warranted the use of deadly force.
Leonard Cure, who had recently departed the Florida prison system, was endeavoring to make amends for the 16 years he spent wrongfully imprisoned in Florida after a 2004 armed robbery conviction. Following his release three years ago, he delivered inspirational speeches to high school students, held a security job, and even contemplated pursuing college at a later stage, having acquired a new home.
Research underscores the disproportionate risks faced by Black Americans in terms of wrongful convictions and police-related fatalities. Seth Miller, executive director of the Innocence Project of Florida, mentioned the profound anxiety experienced by individuals who have been wrongfully incarcerated. He explained that many of them live with a constant fear of being re-arrested at any moment.
Cure’s encounter with law enforcement occurred while he was en route to his newly purchased home outside of Atlanta after visiting his ailing mother. Just two weeks prior, he had shared his story with high school students at an Innocence Project event in Georgia, underscoring his commitment to getting his life back on track. cam video footage capturing
The prosecutors in Florida who had previously reviewed Cure’s case and concurred with his release were equally shocked by the tragic turn of events. Cure was the first individual exonerated by the Conviction Review Unit of Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor. Pryor described the Leonard they knew as intelligent, humorous, and compassionate. Cure had been working in security, harbored aspirations of pursuing a college education, and had a strong interest in broadcast radio production.
Bruce, who witnessed the incident, noted that Cure initially hesitated to exit the vehicle and complied only after several requests from the deputy. However, a violent confrontation unfolded when Cure was being handcuffed toward the back of the truck.
The GBI statement referred to Cure as having “assaulted” the deputy after being subjected to a stun gun. The details of this altercation were not disclosed. Officials in Camden County
The deputy involved, who has not been named yet, was placed on administrative leave. He is identified as a white man. cam video footage capturing
Statistics from the Mapping Police Violence project revealed that over the past decade, Black individuals in the United States have been nearly three times more likely to be killed by law enforcement officers than their white counterparts. Similarly, Black Americans face a significantly elevated risk of being wrongfully convicted, with data from the Equal Justice Initiative indicating that they are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted than white individuals. Moreover, a recent study from the University of Miami reported disproportionate arrests of young Black boys in Miami-Dade County compared to their peers of other races.